KAZAKHSTAN: LOCAL MEDIA FINALLY REPORT RETURN OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002262

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/WCI, DRL, SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PINR PHUM KDRG KAWC KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: LOCAL MEDIA FINALLY REPORT RETURN OF
GTMO DETAINEE DOLKUN KERIMBAKIYEV, INTERVIEW SISTER

REF: ASTANA 2159

ASTANA 00002262 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Kazakhstani media did not report the
return to Kazakhstan of Guantanamo detainee Dolkun
Kerimbakiyev until one week after his arrival. The
government made no announcement about the return. Several
media outlets subsequently interviewed his sister, who
claimed that Kerimbakiyev is a changed person, with weakened
health and a damaged psyche. Kerimbakiyev's family permitted
a journalist from the Kazakh-language service of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty to see Kerimbakiyev, but he was
reportedly talking to himself and did not respond to any
questions. END SUMMARY.

MEDIA SLOW TO REPORT KERIMBAKIYEV'S RETURN


3. (SBU) The Kazakhstani media were slow to report the
October 31 return to Kazakhstan of Guantanamo detainee Dolkun
Kerimbakiyev (partial ISN 521, also known as Abdul Rahim).
The Kazakhstani government issued no statement about the
event, and no Kazakhstani media outlets reported on the
Department of Defense's October 31 press release announcing
the return of an unnamed Kazakhstani citizen (who was easily
identifiable as Kerimbakiyev, since he was the sole remaining
Kazakhstani at Guantanamo). Local journalists apparently
became aware of the return only on November 6, when the
Kazakh-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL) reported the story based on an Agence France Press
report that conveyed DoD's announcement. Responding to a
journalist's question at a press conference in Almaty later
on November 6, the Ambassador confirmed that there were no
remaining Kazakhstanis at Guantanamo.


4. (U) During November 7-11, three Kazakhstani newspapers
considered to be pro-opposition or independent --
"Respublika," Vremya," and "Megapolis" -- published articles
in their print or on-line editions on Kerimbakiyev's return
which included interviews with his sister, Elmira
Kerimbakiyeva. The Kazakh-language service of RFE/RL also
spoke with her. (NOTE: State-owned Kazakhstan TV reported
Kerimbakiyev's return during the November 10 broadcast of the
Kazakh-language "Ayna Aqparat" news show. END NOTE.)

SISTER CLAIMS HE IS A "CHANGED PERSON"


5. (SBU) Elmira Kerimbakiyeva was interviewed at her family
residence in the village of Kyzyl Sharyk, which is located in
Almaty oblast, about 120 kilometers from the city of Almaty.
She confirmed her brother had returned home to the village.
(NOTE: Per reftel, we had been told by MFA officials that
Kermibakiyev would be returning to the city of Almaty. END
NOTE.) The various articles reported that she made the
following statements:

-- Dolkun Kerimbakiyev has not yet recovered from his
confinement. He is a changed person, is afraid of people,
and has been crying frequently at night. His health was
weakened by his imprisonment, and his psyche is not fully in
order.

-- Kerimbakiyev has said very little about Guantanamo. He
claims he virtually did not see the sun for seven years,
because detainees were taken on walks for just two hours a
day in the morning, while the prison walls were so high that
the sun did not rise above them at that time of day. He
further claims he was not permitted to talk with other
detainees during these walks. Kerimbakiyev has not said
anything about being subjected to "torture," but does
maintain that bright lights were turned on in his cell 24
hours per day.


ASTANA 00002262 002.2 OF 002


-- Kerimbakiyev's uncle went to Astana to meet him on his
arrival on October 31. (NOTE: Per reftel, we had originally
understood that this relative was a brother. END NOTE.)
Because Kerimbakiyev was not issued any documents by the MFA
upon arrival, it took him three days to make it home from
Astana.

-- Kerimbakiyev's uncle and aunt will help him find work, but
only later, after he has recovered sufficiently.

-- Kerimbakiyev's mother went to Pakistan together with his
younger brother to look for him seven years ago when he
disappeared. She never came back. (NOTE: In a July 11,
2007, interview with "Vremya," Kerimbakiyev's aunt, Nurkhan
Sabirova, maintained that Kerimbakiyev's father died shortly
after his birth and that his mother abandoned her children
and disappeared not long afterwards, as a result of which she
raised Kerimbakiyev. END NOTE.)


6. (U) Kerimbakiyev's family permitted a journalist from
RFE/RL to enter Kerimbakiyev's room. The journalist reported
that Kerimbakiyev was talking to himself, but could not be
understood. The reporter tried to speak with Kerimbakiyev,
but he reportedly did not respond.
HOAGLAND